'No heat other than the range and geyser in the kitchen for hot water'

'No heat other than the range and geyser in the kitchen for hot water'

Billy Gallagher remembers his early years and recalls the living conditions and austere lifestyle of his family.

Billy Gallagher

Trinity College Dublin

1945

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Billy Gallagher

Childhood and Early Life

Life Story

Strabane, Co. Tyrone

1940's

Born during the war (rationing), all travel by bicycle, lived in 4 bed semi detached (Galban, Derry Rd, Strabane) (rented) with maid living in. Annie Coyle from St Johnston in Donegal. She was paid 30 shillings a month and worked full day (7 am to bedtime) with £_ day on Thursdays. Part-time gardener paid 1 shilling an hour.A lot of our clothes were made (cutting up father's overcoats by tailor, having jumpers knitted by Mrs O'Kane -she had 11 children ' even vests were knitted.) No heat other than range and a geyser in kitchen for hot water (carried with kettles up to bath). There was an immersion heater but if you forgot to turn it off you burned down the house. There was a turf fire in the sitting room. Although all the other rooms, including bedrooms, had fire places fires were seldom lit in them unless you were sick in bed. I have no memory of fire screens other than in the sitting room.

Irish Research Council for Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (IRCHSS)

Dr Kathleen McTiernan (Trinity College Dublin)

Dr Deirdre O'Donnell (Trinity College Dublin)